Management of hyperprolactinemia

INTRODUCTION — 

Lactotroph adenomas (prolactinomas) are more amenable to pharmacologic treatment than any other kind of pituitary adenoma because of the availability of dopamine agonists, which usually decrease both prolactin secretion and tumor size. For the minority of lactotroph adenomas that do not respond to dopamine agonists, other treatments must be used. Hyperprolactinemia due to nonadenoma causes should also be treated if it causes hypogonadism or bothersome galactorrhea.

This topic will review the major issues concerning the therapy of hyperprolactinemia due to lactotroph adenomas and other causes, with the exception of treatment during pregnancy, which is discussed separately. The causes, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia are also discussed elsewhere. (See "Management of lactotroph adenoma (prolactinoma) before and during pregnancy" and "Causes of hyperprolactinemia" and "Clinical manifestations and evaluation of hyperprolactinemia".)

INDICATIONS FOR TREATMENT — 

There are two principal reasons why patients with hyperprolactinemia may need to be treated: existing or impending neurologic symptoms due to the large size of a lactotroph adenoma and hypogonadism or other symptoms (such as galactorrhea) due to hyperprolactinemia [1-5].

A third indication is for women with mild hyperprolactinemia and normal cycles who are trying to conceive, as they may have subtle luteal phase dysfunction. (See "Clinical manifestations and evaluation of hyperprolactinemia", section on 'Menstrual cycle dysfunction'.)

Adenoma size and treatment

●Macroadenoma – Microadenomas are less than 1 cm in diameter. Studies of the natural history of microadenomas show that 95 percent do not enlarge over four to six years of observation [6,7]. The 5 percent that do enlarge should be treated because of the increase in size alone. (See "Causes, presentation, and evaluation of sellar masses", section on 'Clinical manifestations'.)

Treatment is also necessary when the adenoma extends outside of the sella and abuts or elevates the optic chiasm, or invades the cavernous or sphenoid sinuses or the clivus; lesions of this size are likely to continue to grow and eventually cause neurologic symptoms.

●Microadenoma – Microadenomas are less than 1 cm in diameter. Studies of the natural history of microadenomas show that 95 percent do not enlarge during four to six years of observation [6,7]. The 5 percent that do enlarge should be treated because of the increase in size alone. (See 'Withdrawal of dopamine agonists' below.)

●Tumor size and prolactin level – Prolactin secretion by lactotroph adenomas is usually proportional to their size. Adenomas <1 cm in diameter are typically associated with serum prolactin values below 200 ng/mL (8.7 nmol/L), those approximately 1 to 2 cm in diameter with values between 200 and 1000 ng/mL (8.7 to 43.48 nmol/L), and those greater than 2 cm in diameter with values above 1000 ng/mL (43.48 nmol/L) and as high as 50,000 ng/mL (2173.91 nmol/L) (figure 1). There are exceptions to this generalization, however, as occasional patients have a large lactotroph adenoma but only modest hyperprolactinemia. Such adenomas are generally less well differentiated and respond less well to dopamine agonists than the more typical adenomas.

In contrast to the extremely high serum prolactin concentrations that may be seen with lactotroph macroadenomas, prolactin levels due to nonadenoma causes rarely exceed 200 ng/mL (8.7 nmol/L). (See "Clinical manifestations and evaluation of hyperprolactinemia", section on 'Serum prolactin concentrations'.)

Symptoms — Treatment of hyperprolactinemia is indicated when it causes hypogonadism by suppressing gonadotropin secretion or when it causes bothersome galactorrhea [1]. The clinical manifestations of hyperprolactinemia are reviewed in detail separately. (See "Clinical manifestations and evaluation of hyperprolactinemia".)

INITIAL THERAPY

Dopamine agonists — For most patients with hyperprolactinemia, including those with lactotroph adenomas (prolactinomas) of all sizes, we suggest dopamine agonist therapy (figure 2). These drugs decrease serum prolactin concentrations and decrease the size of most lactotroph adenomas [8,9].

Other options may be needed in the following scenarios:

●Patients with adenomas that are resistant to dopamine agonists.

●Patients taking an antipsychotic drug that cannot be discontinued. Switching to an antipsychotic less likely to elevate prolactin should be considered (algorithm 1). (See 'Intolerant or inadequate response' below and 'Drug-induced hyperprolactinemia' below.)

Choice of drug — For most patients with hyperprolactinemia, we suggest cabergoline as initial therapy. Bromocriptine is also available but is less effective and has greater side effects.

Pergolide had been used for Parkinson disease and hyperprolactinemia, but it was withdrawn from the market in the United States because of concerns about valvular heart disease. Quinagolide is available in some countries, but not the United States. (See 'Valvular heart disease' below.)

●Cabergoline – As noted, we suggest cabergoline as the first choice because of its efficacy and favorable side-effect profile [2,10]. It is an ergot dopamine agonist that is administered once or twice a week and has much less tendency to cause nausea than bromocriptine [11,12]. It may also be effective in patients resistant to bromocriptine [13].

At the high doses used for the treatment of Parkinson disease, cabergoline is associated with an increased risk of valvular heart disease [14,15], but at the lower doses generally used for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia, cabergoline appears to have lower or no risk. (See 'Valvular heart disease' below.)

●Bromocriptine – Bromocriptine is an ergot derivative that has been used for approximately four decades for treatment of hyperprolactinemia. It should be given twice a day to have optimal therapeutic effect [8]. It is more likely than cabergoline to cause nausea.

●Other – Quinagolide (CV 205-502), a nonergot dopamine agonist that is given once or twice a day, is available in some countries but not the United States [16-18]. The starting dose is 0.075 mg once a day, which can be increased to twice a day and a maximum total daily dose of 0.9 mg. It is generally considered a second-line drug where cabergoline and/or bromocriptine are available, but unlike cabergoline, it is not an ergot derivative, so valvular heart disease is not a concern.

Where available, it may also offer an alternative for patients who do not respond to or who cannot tolerate bromocriptine [18-21].

Efficacy — Dopamine agonists decrease prolactin secretion (figure 2) and reduce the size of the lactotroph adenoma (image 1) in more than 90 percent of patients. Both effects are mediated by the binding of the drug to cell-surface dopamine receptors, leading to reductions in the synthesis and secretion of prolactin and in adenoma cell size [22]. In a review of 13 studies of 280 women with hyperprolactinemia, bromocriptine reduced the serum prolactin concentration to normal in 229 patients with hyperprolactinemia (82 percent) and 66 of 92 patients with lactotroph macroadenomas (71 percent) [8].

Cabergoline may be superior to bromocriptine in decreasing serum prolactin concentration [10,11,13]. This was illustrated in a trial of 459 women with hyperprolactinemia and amenorrhea who had microadenomas or no obvious cause; the patients who were randomized to cabergoline were more likely to have a reduction of serum prolactin to normal (83 versus 52 percent in the bromocriptine group) (figure 2) [11]. In addition, a meta-analysis of three trials and six observational studies reported that cabergoline was more effective than bromocriptine in reducing the risk of persistent hyperprolactinemia, amenorrhea, and galactorrhea (relative risk [RR] 2.88, 1.85, and 3.41, respectively) [9].

In general, the greater the decrease in serum prolactin concentration, the greater the reduction in adenoma size. The effect on adenoma size is most apparent in patients with lactotroph macroadenomas (image 1) [23].

The therapeutic efficacy of dopamine agonists may be blunted by the concurrent use of a number of drugs known to raise serum prolactin concentrations, including neuroleptic drugs, metoclopramide, sulpiride, domperidone, methyldopa, verapamil, and cimetidine.

Quinagolide appears to have similar therapeutic effects to cabergoline in reducing serum prolactin and adenoma size [17,24,25]. It is an option for those who cannot tolerate or do not respond to bromocriptine [18-21]. It is available in some countries but not the United States.

Time course of clinical response — The fall in serum prolactin typically occurs within the first two to three weeks of therapy with a dopamine agonist (figure 2) [11]; in patients with macroadenomas, it always precedes any decrease in adenoma size [17]. The decrease in adenoma size can, in many patients, be detected by imaging within six weeks after initiation of treatment; in some patients, however, a decrease is not apparent for six months (image 1) [23]. These benefits occur even in patients who have impaired visual fields before therapy, occurring in 9 of 10 such patients in each of two reports [26,27].

Following the decrease in serum prolactin and adenoma size in patients with macroadenomas, visual and pituitary function often return to normal. Vision usually begins to improve within days after the initiation of treatment [23,26]. There is eventual recovery of menses and fertility in women and of testosterone secretion, sperm count, and erectile function in men [8,11,28-30]. Patients with macroadenomas who have other pituitary hormone deficiencies as a result of the macroadenoma may also have a return of these hormone levels to normal [31].

Adverse effects

Typical side effects — The principal side effects of dopamine agonist drugs are nausea, postural hypotension, and mental fogginess. Less common side effects include nasal stuffiness, depression, Raynaud phenomenon, alcohol intolerance, and constipation. Nausea appears to be more common with bromocriptine than cabergoline.

Side effects are more likely to occur when treatment is first initiated or after a dose increase. These can be avoided in most patients by starting with a small dose (eg, one-half of the lowest strength pill of bromocriptine once a day or half a pill of cabergoline twice a week) and by giving it with food or at bedtime. A small percentage of patients have side effects even at the lowest doses. In women, nausea can be avoided by intravaginal administration [32].

Impulse control disorders — An uncommon but well-recognized adverse effect is the onset or exacerbation of impulse control disorders, such as hypersexuality and compulsive gambling, shopping, or eating. These behaviors had originally been described in case reports. In a small, controlled study, 10 hyperprolactinemic patients who were treated with cabergoline had a higher score on one scale of impulsiveness than hyperprolactinemic patients not treated or 10 patients with a normal prolactin [33]. In an uncontrolled study of 308 patients who had lactotroph adenomas and were treated with cabergoline for at least three months, 17 percent developed an impulse control disorder [34]. The increased risk of impulse control disorders has also been described in up to 50 percent of patients taking dopamine agonists for Parkinson disease. (See "Initial pharmacologic treatment of Parkinson disease", section on 'Impulse control and related behavioral disorders'.)

Valvular heart disease — We suggest starting with the lowest dose of cabergoline necessary to lower prolactin to normal. We also suggest ordering cardiac ultrasonography approximately every two years in patients who take larger than typical doses of cabergoline (eg, greater than 2 mg per week). There are no available data for cabergoline use in patients with preexisting valvular heart disease. However, for patients with a lactotroph adenoma and mild valvular heart disease, we feel it is reasonable to use cabergoline therapy since the doses used in this setting have not been associated with an increased risk of valvular heart disease.

●Risk in Parkinson disease – Cabergoline and pergolide have been associated with valvular heart disease in patients with Parkinson disease [14,15]. The association appears to be dose dependent, and the doses used for Parkinson disease are much higher than those used for hyperprolactinemia. In the United States, pergolide was voluntarily withdrawn from the market in March 2007 due to this risk [35].

●Risk in hyperprolactinemia – In contrast to the excess risk of cardiac valvulopathy associated with high-dose cabergoline use for Parkinson disease, most studies suggest that low-dose cabergoline for hyperprolactinemia is probably not associated with excess risk [36-45].

•Studies suggesting an increased risk – In one report of 50 patients with lactotroph adenoma treated with cabergoline, moderate tricuspid regurgitation was more frequent (54 percent) than in 50 age- and sex-matched subjects (18 percent) [38]. In a cross-sectional study, 62 patients who were treated with cabergoline were more likely to have valvular disease, primarily mild regurgitation, than patients who were treated with bromocriptine (37.1 versus 17.5 percent, respectively) [46]. The risk was associated with cumulative doses >115 mg.

•Studies that do not suggest an increased risk – In a review of nine studies, the majority did not demonstrate an increased risk of valvular regurgitation with cabergoline [36]. Most patients were using standard doses of cabergoline for hyperprolactinemia (0.5 to 1.5 mg/week).

Additional reassuring data come from a prospective study of 40 patients with newly diagnosed hyperprolactinemia treated with a median cumulative dose of 149 mg over five years [47]. Patients were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography before initiating cabergoline and after 24 and 60 months of therapy; none of the patients developed significant valvulopathy.

One hundred and ninety-one of patients who were reported in one of the studies above [45] were followed for an additional median time of 34 months, during which time they took a median additional 232 mg of cabergoline and had a transthoracic echocardiogram at the beginning and end of the additional observation period. No association was found between the dose of cabergoline and the prevalence of a valvular abnormality [48].

Withdrawal of therapy is discussed below. (See 'Withdrawal of dopamine agonists' below.)

Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea — Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea may occur during dopamine agonist treatment for very large lactotroph adenomas that extend inferiorly and invade the floor of the sella [49,50]. Although uncommon, early recognition and neurosurgical evaluation of this complication are important because of the potential risk of bacterial meningitis.

ADMINISTRATION

Microadenomas

Initial dosing (dopamine agonists)

●Cabergoline – The initial dose of cabergoline should be 0.25 mg twice a week, or 0.5 mg once a week if a patient finds weekly dosing more convenient. Giving the dose at dinner or at bedtime reduces the chance of nausea or sleepiness.

●Bromocriptine – If bromocriptine is used, we suggest a starting dose of 1.25 mg after dinner or at bedtime every day for one week, then increase to 1.25 mg twice a day (after breakfast and after dinner or at bedtime).

Monitoring response to therapy — After one to two months of therapy, the patient should be evaluated for side effects, and serum prolactin should be measured.

It is not necessary to repeat the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Subsequent treatment depends upon the response:

Prolactin normalized — If the serum prolactin concentration is normal or near normal and no side effects have occurred, the initial dose should be continued. In this setting, gonadal function will probably return within a few months. (See 'Long-term follow-up' below.)

Of note, in some patients, dopamine agonist therapy may result in restoration of normal gonadal function (eg, normal menstrual cycles in women) even if serum prolactin levels remain slightly high. In this case, the reproductive outcome (menstrual function) can be followed rather than the absolute prolactin level to determine treatment dose.

Similarly, when treating women with bothersome galactorrhea, the goal of therapy is to lower the serum prolactin low enough to resolve the galactorrhea. This may not require lowering prolactin into the normal range for the galactorrhea to remit.

Prolactin improved but not normal

●If the serum prolactin concentration has not decreased to normal and the symptoms of hyperprolactinemia have not improved but no side effects have occurred, the dose should be increased gradually to as much as 1.5 mg of cabergoline two or three times a week. Whatever dose results in a normal serum prolactin value should be continued. (See 'Prolactin normalized' above.)

●If the cabergoline dose is increased above 2 mg per week, we suggest cardiac ultrasonography every two years in patients to monitor for valvular heart disease.

Intolerant or inadequate response

●To initial therapy:

•If the serum prolactin concentration does not decrease sufficiently to restore normal gonadal function in response to bromocriptine (if it was chosen as initial therapy) and if compliance seems good, changing to cabergoline may be effective. The cabergoline dose should then be adjusted until the serum prolactin concentration is normal. (See 'Prolactin normalized' above.)

Approximately 25 percent of patients are resistant to bromocriptine [11,13], and most (80 percent) can achieve normal prolactin concentrations with cabergoline therapy [13,51]. It is estimated that 10 percent of patients are resistant to cabergoline [2].

•If the patient cannot tolerate the first dopamine agonist administered because of side effects, another can be tried. In women, nausea can be avoided by vaginal administration [52], although other side effects cannot.

●To all dopamine agonists:

•Patients who do not respond to typical doses of dopamine agonists, eg, up to 2 mg of cabergoline a week, may respond to higher doses [51], but higher doses may be associated with higher risk of valvular heart disease.

For patients who cannot tolerate any dopamine agonist, treatment options depend upon their fertility goals.

Options for patients with intolerance or lack of response

Patients seeking fertility

●Women pursuing pregnancy – For women seeking fertility who do not respond to or tolerate dopamine agonists, ovulation induction would be the next step. (See "Overview of ovulation induction".)

●Men seeking fertility – For men seeking fertility who do not respond to or tolerate dopamine agonists, exogenous hCG may be used to induce or maintain spermatogenesis. (See "Induction of fertility in males with secondary hypogonadism", section on 'Initial treatment: hCG'.)

Patients not seeking fertility

●Hormone therapy for women - Estradiol, along with progesterone or a progestin, can be considered as sole therapy for the hypogonadism resulting from hyperprolactinemia. Estradiol is also a reasonable option for women who have hypogonadism resulting from hyperprolactinemia due to other causes, including antipsychotic agents. (See 'Drug-induced hyperprolactinemia' below.)

There are many regimens available for low dose, physiologic estradiol combined with a progestogen, similar to those used for symptomatic menopausal patients or for treatment of hypogonadism of any etiology. For younger patients, a combined oral estrogen-progestin contraceptive is also an option. (See "Treatment of menopausal symptoms with hormone therapy", section on 'Our preferred regimens' and "Evaluation and management of secondary amenorrhea", section on 'Management' and "Combined estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives: Patient selection, counseling, and use".)

●Testosterone therapy for men - For men with hyperprolactinemia causing hypogonadism who cannot tolerate or who do not respond to dopamine agonists, testosterone treatment can be considered for those who are not interested in near-term fertility, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for those who are. (See "Testosterone treatment of male hypogonadism".)

Transsphenoidal surgery — Transsphenoidal surgery should be considered in patients with microadenomas when dopamine agonist treatment has been unsuccessful in lowering the serum prolactin concentration, or when symptoms or signs due to hyperprolactinemia persist even after several months of treatment, and gonadal steroid replacement is not an option, eg, when pregnancy is desired.

Surgery could also be considered as initial treatment for those patients in whom it would likely be curative and who would prefer not to take prolonged medical treatment. The role of surgery in patients with macroadenomas is reviewed below. (See 'Role of transsphenoidal surgery' below.)

Withdrawal of dopamine agonists — We suggest considering gradually decreasing and then discontinuing the dopamine agonist in the following situations:

●A patient who had idiopathic hyperprolactinemia (no pituitary mass at baseline) and whose serum prolactin decreased to low normal in response to dopamine agonist treatment. We suggest gradually decreasing the dose, as long as the prolactin remains within the normal range. If the patient then has a normal prolactin for two years while taking a low dose (eg, cabergoline 0.25 mg twice a week), we suggest a trial discontinuation of the drug.

●A patient who had hyperprolactinemia and a microadenoma prior to treatment, in whom prolactin fell to normal, and who has not had evidence of an adenoma by MRI for at least two years.

●A patient had a macroadenoma <2 cm in diameter prior to treatment, as long as the serum prolactin has remained normal with no adenoma detectable by MRI over at least two years.

Our approach is consistent with that of the Endocrine Society clinical practice guidelines [2]. If the dopamine agonist is discontinued, prolactin should be measured after three months and yearly thereafter. If the prolactin increases substantially (eg, to >100 ng/mL), especially in a patient who originally had a macroadenoma, cabergoline should be resumed.

We recommend not stopping the dopamine agonist if the prolactin increases above normal while gradually decreasing the drug.

If serum prolactin increases after a withdrawal attempt, we suggest resuming cabergoline therapy at the same dose that previously kept the prolactin normal and decreased the adenoma size to undetectable.

Several studies have reported the consequences of discontinuation of dopamine agonist treatment in patients who have hyperprolactinemia. Recurrence of hyperprolactinemia and increase in adenoma size have been variable [53-58].

In one prospective study of 200 cabergoline-treated patients with hyperprolactinemia (25 with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia, 105 with microadenomas, and 70 with macroadenomas), therapy was withdrawn when serum prolactin concentrations were normal and MRI showed no adenoma (or >50 percent reduction with no cavernous sinus invasion and >5 mm distance from the optic chiasm) [53]. After two to five years of observation, the following results were seen:

●Hyperprolactinemia recurred in 24, 31, and 36 percent of patients with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia, microadenomas, and macroadenomas, respectively (eg, a remission rate, defined as persistent normoprolactinemia of 64 to 76 percent).

●Adenoma regrowth was not seen in any patient.

●Hyperprolactinemia in patients with adenomas was more likely to recur if an adenoma remnant was seen on MRI than if it was not when treatment was stopped (78 versus 33 percent for macroadenomas, and 42 versus 26 percent for microadenomas).

Most patients with a macroadenoma remnant had adenoma recurrence by seven years of follow-up [59]. However, giant adenomas (>3 cm) may behave more aggressively, as shown by case reports of rapid, substantial regrowth within weeks of discontinuation of dopamine agonist medication [60,61].

In contrast, a number of other studies report higher rates of recurrent hyperprolactinemia (eg, lower rates of remission) [54,57,61]. In a meta-analysis of 19 studies with a total of 743 patients, the overall rate of remission (persistent normoprolactinemia) after withdrawal of dopamine agonist therapy was only 21 percent (32, 21, and 16 percent for idiopathic hyperprolactinemia, microprolactinomas, and macroprolactinomas, respectively) [58]. Other findings included:

●Higher rate of remission in studies in which cabergoline was used (35 percent in four studies) than in those in which bromocriptine was used (20 percent in 12 studies).

●Higher rates of remission in studies with treatment duration longer than 24 months (34 percent) compared with studies with shorter treatment duration (16 percent).

●Higher rate of remission in studies where a 50 percent tumor reduction was achieved in all patients before stopping therapy (55 percent remission rate was seen).

In summary, hyperprolactinemia may recur in a considerable number of patients after stopping dopamine agonist therapy. The probability of sustained remission is highest the longer the serum prolactin has been normal and when no adenoma has been seen by MRI, preferably after at least two years of drug therapy.

Menopause — After menopause, dopamine agonists can be discontinued and the serum prolactin concentration can be allowed to rise. Imaging should be performed if the value rises above 200 ng/mL to determine if the adenoma has increased to a clinically important size. If so, drug therapy should be resumed.

Macroadenomas

Initial dosing — Treatment of patients with lactotroph macroadenomas, no matter how large or how severe the neurologic sequelae, should also be initiated with a dopamine agonist, starting with cabergoline [2], as described above for patients with microadenomas. (See 'Microadenomas' above.)

Patients whose macroadenomas are largely cystic should also be treated initially with a dopamine agonist since this treatment shrinks most cystic macroadenomas [62]. We titrate the dose up on the same schedule as for patients with microadenomas. Increasing the dose too quickly can increase the risk of side effects and lead to the erroneous conclusion that the patient is unable to tolerate the drug.

Titration of dose and monitoring — The serum prolactin should be measured and the cabergoline dose should be increased every two to three months, if necessary, until the serum prolactin concentration becomes normal.

If vision was abnormal before therapy, it should be reassessed within one month, although improvement may occur within a few days.

MRI should be repeated in 6 to 12 months to determine if the size of the adenoma has decreased. The MRI should be repeated approximately once a year until the adenoma is no longer impinging on important structures.

In most patients with lactotroph macroadenomas:

●The size of the adenoma decreases to approximately the same degree as the serum prolactin concentration, although the relationship varies from patient to patient.

●The decrease in size usually cannot be demonstrated until weeks or months after the prolactin secretion has decreased (image 1).

●The size of the adenoma can continue to decrease for years.

Once serum prolactin has normalized:

●If the clinical picture is stable (no evidence of adenoma growth on MRI and no symptoms such as headaches or visual symptoms), serum prolactin should be measured in six months, and if normal, it should then be measured yearly.

●Serum prolactin should be measured at any point if there are recurrent or new symptoms.

Prolactin normalized — If the serum prolactin concentration is normal and no side effects have occurred, the initial dose should be continued. (See 'Long-term follow-up' below.)

Candidates for stopping therapy — If the serum prolactin concentration has been normal for at least one year and the adenoma has decreased markedly in size, the dose of the dopamine agonist can be decreased gradually, as long as the serum prolactin remains normal [63]. Discontinuation can be considered in those patients who had macroadenomas of modest size (eg, 1.0 to 1.5 cm), whose serum prolactin concentrations have been normal for more than two years, and whose adenomas can no longer be visualized by MRI for more than two years.

If the drug is discontinued, the prolactin concentration and the size of the adenoma by MRI must be monitored. (See 'Withdrawal of dopamine agonists' above.)

Discontinuation should probably not be considered if the adenoma was initially >2 cm, if it can still be visualized by MRI during treatment, or if the prolactin has not become normal during treatment. The agonist should not be discontinued entirely, even after menopause, because hyperprolactinemia will probably recur and the adenoma may increase in size [53,60,61]. (See 'Withdrawal of dopamine agonists' above.)

Inadequate response or drug intolerance — We recommend the following approach in patients who do not have a complete response to dopamine agonist therapy:

●If bromocriptine was tried first and the patient cannot tolerate it or the adenoma does not respond to it, cabergoline should be tried.

●If the patient cannot tolerate or the adenoma does not respond to agonist therapy, transsphenoidal surgery should be performed, and if a significant amount of adenoma tissue remains after surgery, radiation therapy should be administered. (See 'Role of transsphenoidal surgery' below and 'Postoperative radiation therapy' below.)

Surgery can also be considered for the woman who has a giant adenoma and is contemplating pregnancy. (See 'Role of transsphenoidal surgery' below.)

Role of transsphenoidal surgery — Transsphenoidal surgery should be considered when:

●The patient prefers transsphenoidal surgery rather than take a medication for a prolonged period.

●The patient has intolerable symptoms in response to cabergoline.

●Cabergoline treatment has been unsuccessful in lowering the serum prolactin concentration or size of the adenoma, and symptoms or signs due to hyperprolactinemia or adenoma size persist after several months of treatment at high doses.

●A woman has a giant lactotroph adenoma (eg, >3 cm) and wishes to become pregnant even if the adenoma responds to a dopamine agonist. The rationale for this approach is that if the patient becomes pregnant and discontinues the agonist for the duration of pregnancy, the adenoma may increase to a clinically important size before delivery.

Surgery is usually successful in substantially reducing serum prolactin concentrations in patients with lactotroph adenomas, sometimes to normal [4,64,65]. It is a safer procedure when performed by an experienced surgeon [66]. Surgery is more likely to lower prolactin to normal for microadenomas or macroadenomas that do not extend into the sphenoid sinuses (Knosp grades 0 to 1) than those that extend further (Knosp grades ≥2) [67]. (See "Transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas and other sellar masses", section on 'Lactotroph adenomas'.)

Surgery, however, has the following limitations:

●Not all of the adenoma tissue can be excised in many patients, particularly those with macroadenomas. (See "Transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas and other sellar masses", section on 'Lactotroph adenomas'.)

●The adenoma and hyperprolactinemia may recur. (See "Transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas and other sellar masses", section on 'Lactotroph adenomas'.)

Complications are the same and may occur during and after transsphenoidal surgery for any kind of pituitary adenoma.

Postoperative radiation therapy — Radiation is primarily used to prevent regrowth of residual tumor in a patient with a very large macroadenoma after transsphenoidal debulking of lactotroph adenomas that are resistant to cabergoline (ie, when other modalities have been unsuccessful). It should not be used for the primary treatment of patients with macroadenomas or at all for those with microadenomas.

Because 90 percent of lactotroph adenomas respond to dopamine agonists and most of the rest can be treated successfully by surgery, the usual goal of radiation treatment is to control growth of a residual large adenoma despite dopamine agonist treatment and surgery.

●Radiation therapy, either single dose [68-71] or multiple fractions [72,73], appears to be effective in controlling growth in up to 89 to 100 percent of patients in reported series. These reports, however, do not specifically describe the effect on the aggressive lactotroph adenoma that does not respond to dopamine agonist treatment and cannot be entirely resected surgically, which is the kind of adenoma for which radiation is most needed.

●Radiation therapy results in highly variable effects on hyperprolactinemia, but overall up to 50 percent of patients have a return to normal prolactin levels with radiation therapy alone, though the time to response is generally greater than in other types of functioning adenomas, and a majority are managed with the addition of a dopamine agonist [72,74-76]. Hyperprolactinemia alone does not require correction if it is not causing hypogonadism; in addition, hypogonadism can be managed by administration of gonadal steroids.

Complications of radiation include transient nausea, lassitude, loss of taste and smell, loss of scalp hair at the radiation portals during and shortly after the treatment, and possible damage to the optic nerve and neurologic dysfunction [1]. There is also a 50 percent chance of loss of anterior pituitary hormone secretion during the subsequent 10 years [77].

Because 90 percent of lactotroph adenomas respond to dopamine agonists and most of the rest can be treated successfully by surgery, the usual goal of radiation treatment is to control growth of a large adenoma when dopamine agonist treatment and surgery have not. Single-dose and multiple fraction radiation appear to be equally effective.

●Radiation therapy, either single dose [68-71] or multiple fractions [72,73], appears to be effective in controlling growth in up to 89 to 100 percent of patients in reported series. These reports, however, do not specifically describe the effect on the aggressive lactotroph adenoma that does not respond to dopamine agonist treatment and cannot be entirely resected surgically, which is the kind of adenoma for which radiation is needed most.

●Radiation therapy results in highly variable effects on hyperprolactinemia, but overall up to 50 percent of patients have a return to normal prolactin level with radiation therapy alone though they generally require more years to respond than other types of functioning adenomas, and a majority are managed with the addition of a dopamine agonist [72,74-76]. Hyperprolactinemia, however, does not require correction if it is not causing hypogonadism and, if it is, can be managed by administration of gonadal steroids.

Long-term follow-up — Patients with microadenomas who achieve normal serum prolactin concentrations should be treated for at least one year. Serum prolactin measurements should be obtained at least every 12 months [1,2].

After approximately one year of treatment (if prolactin is normal), the dose can often be decreased. If the prolactin has been normal for two or more years and no adenoma is seen on MRI, discontinuation of the drug can be considered. (See 'Withdrawal of dopamine agonists' above.)

PATIENTS PURSUING PREGNANCY — 

We now typically offer cabergoline to women who wish to become pregnant. Bromocriptine might theoretically be a better first choice because there is more evidence that it does not cause congenital anomalies [78]. However, available data suggest that cabergoline is also safe in early pregnancy [79,80], and it has the other advantages over bromocriptine described above.

Dopamine agonists should be stopped in women who become pregnant. (See "Management of lactotroph adenoma (prolactinoma) before and during pregnancy", section on 'Fetal risk of dopamine agonist exposure'.)

The management of lactotroph adenomas before, during, and after pregnancy is reviewed in detail separately. (See "Management of lactotroph adenoma (prolactinoma) before and during pregnancy".)

TREATMENT OF NONADENOMA CAUSES OF HYPERPROLACTINEMIA — 

Treatment of hyperprolactinemia due to an abnormality other than a lactotroph adenoma varies depending on the cause:

Idiopathic hyperprolactinemia — In a substantial number of patients whose serum prolactin concentration is between 20 and 100 ng/mL, no cause can be found; they are considered to have idiopathic hyperprolactinemia. Although many of these patients may have microadenomas not visible on imaging studies, in most of them the serum prolactin concentrations change little during follow-up for several years. Serum prolactin should be measured yearly. (See "Causes of hyperprolactinemia".)

In patients with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia (no pituitary mass at baseline) whose serum prolactin decreased to low-normal in response to dopamine agonist treatment, we suggest attempting to decrease the dose gradually, as long as the prolactin remains within the normal range. If a patient has a normal prolactin for two years while taking a low dose (eg, 0.25 mg of cabergoline twice a week), we suggest a trial of discontinuation of the drug. (See 'Withdrawal of dopamine agonists' above.)

Hypothalamic and pituitary disease — Any disease in or near the hypothalamus or pituitary that interferes with the secretion of dopamine or its delivery to the hypothalamus can cause hyperprolactinemia, including tumors and infiltrative diseases of the hypothalamus, section of the hypothalamic-pituitary stalk (eg, due to head trauma or surgery), and adenomas of the pituitary other than lactotroph adenomas. If removal of the adenoma or mass is not possible, the hyperprolactinemia should be treated with a dopamine agonist.

Drug-induced hyperprolactinemia — A number of drugs, especially antipsychotics and some antihypertensives (verapamil, methyldopa), can cause hyperprolactinemia (algorithm 1 and table 1). (See "Causes of hyperprolactinemia", section on 'Drug induced'.)

If the hyperprolactinemia is asymptomatic, no treatment is necessary. If symptoms are present and the hyperprolactinemia is due to a drug other than an antipsychotic agent, we suggest discontinuing the drug as a trial. If discontinuation is not feasible, options include switching to a drug with a similar action that does not cause hyperprolactinemia, adding estradiol or testosterone for the hypogonadal symptoms and/or low bone mass, or cautious administration of a dopamine agonist, as described in the following section.

Antipsychotic drug use — If an antipsychotic drug is causing hyperprolactinemia and hypogonadism but cannot be discontinued because it is essential, several possible treatment options can be considered (algorithm 1):

●Addition of a dopamine agonist. This option should be undertaken very cautiously in consultation with the treating psychiatrist since it might counteract the dopamine antagonist property of the antipsychotic drug.

●Change to a relatively prolactin-sparing antipsychotic drug, such as quetiapine. This course should only be considered in conjunction with the treating psychiatrist.

●Addition of the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole to the existing antipsychotic drug. This drug has both dopamine agonist and antagonist properties and dampens hyperprolactinemia when added to other antipsychotic drugs such as risperidone [81,82].

●Addition of estradiol and progestin to treat the estradiol deficiency and prevent bone loss in women and testosterone to treat testosterone deficiency in men. This approach will not treat the hyperprolactinemia.

Hypothyroidism — If hyperprolactinemia is solely the result of hypothyroidism, it will remit as the hypothyroidism is corrected, so no other treatment is necessary. (See "Causes of hyperprolactinemia", section on 'Hypothyroidism' and "Treatment of primary hypothyroidism in adults".)

Macroprolactinemia — Macroprolactinemia is a benign condition that does not require treatment, as it does not result from hypothalamic or pituitary disease or cause hypogonadism.

Macroprolactin ("big prolactin") is an umbrella term used to describe nonbioactive prolactin isoforms, usually composed of a prolactin monomer and an immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecule. These isoforms are clinically nonreactive and range in size from approximately 150 to 170 kD (the most common form of native prolactin in serum is 23 kD in size).

Macroprolactinemia is sometimes misdiagnosed and treated as ordinary hyperprolactinemia. Misdiagnosis can be avoided by asking the laboratory to pretreat the serum with polyethylene glycol to precipitate the macroprolactin before the immunoassay for prolactin. (See "Causes of hyperprolactinemia", section on 'Macroprolactinemia'.)

SOCIETY GUIDELINE LINKS — 

Links to society and government-sponsored guidelines from selected countries and regions around the world are provided separately. (See "Society guideline links: Hyperprolactinemia/prolactinoma".)

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS — 

UpToDate offers two types of patient education materials, "The Basics" and "Beyond the Basics." The Basics patient education pieces are written in plain language, at the 5^th to 6^th grade reading level, and they answer the four or five key questions a patient might have about a given condition. These articles are best for patients who want a general overview and who prefer short, easy-to-read materials. Beyond the Basics patient education pieces are longer, more sophisticated, and more detailed. These articles are written at the 10^th to 12^th grade reading level and are best for patients who want in-depth information and are comfortable with some medical jargon.

Here are the patient education articles that are relevant to this topic. We encourage you to print or e-mail these topics to your patients. (You can also locate patient education articles on a variety of subjects by searching on "patient info" and the keyword(s) of interest.)

●Basics topics (see "Patient education: Prolactinoma (The Basics)")

●Beyond the Basics topics (see "Patient education: High prolactin levels and prolactinomas (Beyond the Basics)")

SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

●Lactotroph microadenomas

•Dopamine agonist therapy – For patients with lactotroph microadenomas and any degree of hypogonadism, we recommend initial treatment with a dopamine agonist (Grade 1B). We also use dopamine agonist therapy in women with hyperprolactinemia and normal menstrual cycles if they have bothersome galactorrhea. (See 'Microadenomas' above.)

We suggest cabergoline over bromocriptine because it is more likely to be effective and less likely to cause side effects (Grade 2C). (See 'Choice of drug' above.)

For patients who require higher than usual doses of cabergoline (eg, greater than 2 mg per week), cardiac ultrasonography should be performed every two years. (See 'Valvular heart disease' above.)

•Fertility – The management of women with lactotroph microadenomas seeking fertility is reviewed separately. (See "Management of lactotroph adenoma (prolactinoma) before and during pregnancy".)

•Estradiol and progestogen therapy – In premenopausal women who have lactotroph microadenomas causing hyperprolactinemia and hypogonadism, but who cannot tolerate or do not respond to dopamine agonists and do not want to become pregnant, we suggest estradiol and progestin replacement to prevent bone loss (Grade 2C).

●Lactotroph macroadenomas

•Initial therapy with dopamine agonists – For patients with lactotroph macroadenomas, no matter how large or how severe the neurologic consequences, we recommend initial treatment with a dopamine agonist (Grade 1B). Dosing is the same as that for microadenomas. (See 'Microadenomas' above.)

•Transsphenoidal surgery – Transsphenoidal surgery is a reasonable option for patients in whom dopamine agonist treatment has been unsuccessful in reducing the serum prolactin concentration or size of the macroadenoma, or when symptoms or signs due to hyperprolactinemia or adenoma size do not improve. (See 'Role of transsphenoidal surgery' above.)

In patients with large macroadenomas who have undergone transsphenoidal debulking and in whom considerable residual adenoma remains in a location not readily accessible to surgery, we suggest radiation therapy to prevent regrowth of residual adenoma (Grade 2C). We do not use radiation therapy for the primary treatment of patients with macroadenomas or at all for those with microadenomas. (See 'Postoperative radiation therapy' above.)

●Hyperprolactinemia due to antipsychotic agents – We use gonadal steroid replacement therapy in patients with hyperprolactinemia and hypogonadism due to antipsychotic agents (estradiol-progestin in women and testosterone in men) if addition of a dopamine agonist is not possible or if a satisfactory antipsychotic regimen that does not cause hyperprolactinemia cannot be found (algorithm 1). (See 'Antipsychotic drug use' above.)

●Can dopamine agonist therapy be discontinued?

•For patients with lactotroph microadenomas who have had no evidence of the adenoma by MRI for at least two years and have had a normal prolactin while taking a low dose of dopamine agonist for at least two years, we suggest a trial of stopping the drug (Grade 2C). Withdrawal could also be considered for macroadenomas <2 cm in diameter. (See 'Withdrawal of dopamine agonists' above.)

•We use a similar approach for patients with idiopathic hyperprolactinemia (negative MRI) who have had a normal prolactin for at least two years on a low dose of dopamine agonist. (See 'Withdrawal of dopamine agonists' above.)